Matvei Rumiantev, a 22-year-old Russian man, is on trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court in London, accused of assault, two counts of rape, and other charges against a woman who is reportedly friends with Barron Trump, the youngest son of former US President Donald Trump.
Rumiantev has denied the charges, telling jurors that he became upset after learning of the alleged victim’s friendship with the 19-year-old Barron Trump. The court heard that on 3 November 2024, Rumiantev and the alleged victim had an argument at her flat, during which he damaged her air fryer and dropped her kettle.
According to Rumiantev, after he left the flat, he received phone calls and text messages from the alleged victim, which made him concerned for her welfare, so he called the police. In body-worn footage played to the court, the woman can be heard apparently telling officers that Rumiantev’s behaviour was “like jealousy, controlling of like who I can be friends with.”
Rumiantev, who testified on Thursday, said he felt upset when the alleged victim started showing him messages she had with Barron Trump. “I started to explain that I felt upset as well about her talking to Barron Trump,” he told the court. “I was in no way controlling but I was trying to make her know that if she feels unwell seeing messages I had with girls 10 years ago, she could maybe understand how I felt when she was sat there this moment texting someone else.”
The court also heard that later that day, Rumiantev sent the alleged victim a text in Russian, translated into English, which said: “I honestly cannot believe what a f*** up I caused. This is just f***ing nuts. I behaved like an arsehole. I’m very ashamed that I grabbed your phone, you started calling him sweetheart. I felt so unwell.” When asked who “him” was, Rumiantev said “Barron Trump.”
Rumiantev denies the charges against him, which include assault, actual bodily harm, intentional strangulation, perverting the course of justice, and two counts of rape, dating between 1 November 2024 and 23 January 2025. The trial is ongoing.
